How can someone take a picture of a solar system 50 million light years away, but not a coin sized rock on the surface of the moon.

Question

I recently saw a photo somebody posted of a galaxy 50 million light years away. I have always wondered, why doesn’t he point it at the moon or even a planet 10 light years away and see the surface up close? We might see water or certain organisms. I have yet to see a picture like that in my lifetime. Thanks in advance for the answer.

In: Other

Answer 1

For the same reason that you can see a mountain from hundreds of miles away, but can’t read a newspaper when it’s on the opposite side of the room from you. Because the mountain (and that galaxy) is much, much larger than the newspaper (or rock).